The European Union (EU) in the Philippines has released €450 000 (P30.690 million) in humanitarian aid in response to the recent earthquakes in the Davao Region.
In a statement released on Monday, the EU explained that the funding aims to provide emergency assistance to the most affected populations, particularly those residing in temporary shelters.
“This funding, released today, will complement the initial relief efforts implemented by the ACCESS consortium as part of the ongoing EU-funded Rapid Response mechanism, which was activated immediately after the earthquakes,” the statement read.
Out of the total allocation, €300,000 (around P20.46 million) will be awarded to the ACCESS consortium, led by NGO CARE. This funding will prioritize interventions seeking to provide shelter and access to water and sanitation, among other relief efforts.
The remaining €150,000 (about P10.23 million) will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering tents and essential household items such as sleeping kits and kitchen sets.
Additionally, it will fund cash assistance, hot meals, and clean water. Other activities financed by this allocation include healthcare services and the establishment of safe spaces for children.
“The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),” the statement added.
According to the EU, this new allocation is in addition to the €8.05 million (around P549 million) that has already been provided this year for humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness in the Philippines.
This earlier funding included €1.3 million (approximately P88.66 million) in response to tropical cyclones that struck the country in July and late September, as well as €750,000 (around P51.15 million) allocated for the previous earthquake in Cebu.
